A TASTE OF PENANG

Hawker Delights Cuisine, a purveyor of South East Asian cuisine from the esteemed Chef Tony Tan.

PHOTOS BY MICHELLE MILLER

“Hawker” is a term that originates from Singapore. It refers to someone who sells food. In the old days, this was from a roadside stall or a pushcart. These days, hawkers can be found in coffee shops, hawker centers, and food courts (air conditioned hawker centers). Hawkers usually specialize in a particular cuisine, sometimes even focusing on just one dish. The tastiest and best-valued food is found at hawker stalls, and locals are fiercely devoted and addicted to it.

Malaysia is a country that embodies diversity, and this is best represented in its food. the cuisine is majorly a combination of Malay, Chinese, Thai and Indian because of it's geographical location; the variety of ingredients is very rich and the taste has become inevitably delicious. Malay food is strong, spicy and aromatic, combining the rich tastes of the many herbs and spices commonly found in Southeast Asia. It’s taste continually invites visitors to the country with its incredible variety and flavors. If one were to travel to Malaysia in search of the best hawker food, Penang would be the destination. This is where food enthusiasts will find some of the most interesting and complex flavors in the world.

Malay food has inherited a vast array of cuisines from its melting pot of cultures that deserve a place in the diverse Chicago food scene. For those of you who have traveled to Penang and tasted hawker food first hand, HD cuisine promises that they will bring back the fond memories of when you chowed down at that great Malaysian hawker stall.

Welcome to your new favorite restaurant. 🥠